Saturday, 31 August 2013

Four mammal species identified in India tiger reserve for the first time

Uncovering Valmiki's treasures: Four more species added to the Tiger Reserve baseline
August 2013: A once neglected tiger reserve has proved that a wealth of smaller mammals have survived and are now benefitting from the recent efforts to revive the reserve. Three species, previously unrecorded in the once-neglected Valmiki Tiger Reserve have been spotted in the past two months.


A crab-eating mongoose (Herpestes urva), a yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula) and a Himalayan serow (Capricornis thar) were all captured in camera traps placed by the Bihar Forest Department and NGOs WWF-India and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).

A 4th new species, a hoary-bellied squirrel (Callosciurus pygerythrus) was also photographed recently by WTI's Regional Head for Bihar, Dr Samir Kumar Sinha.

Dr Sinha said; "We are excited by these discoveries. Valmiki has excellent potential for tiger recovery and given its contiguity with the Chitwan National Park in Nepal, it will be a critical site for undertaking transboundary tiger conservation. WWF will strengthen its partnership with the management of Valmiki and intensify conservation efforts," said Dr. Dipankar Ghose, Director, Species and Landscapes, WWF-India. 

These species have all been previously recorded in the neighbouring Chitwan National Park in Nepal, which forms the northern boundary of Valmiki Reserve. ZSI has recorded 10 species of amphibians, 27 species of reptiles and 75 species of insects in Valmiki, including the gaur (Bos gaurus) and the Indian wild dog (Cuon alpinus), which are not found in rest of the Terai region in India.

Earth life 'may have come from Mars'

Life may have started on Mars before arriving on Earth, a major scientific conference has heard.

New research supports an idea that the Red Planet was a better place to kick-start biology billions of years ago than the early Earth was.

The evidence is based on how the first molecules necessary for life were assembled.

Details of the theory were outlined by Prof Steven Benner at the Goldschmidt Meeting in Florence, Italy.

Scientists have long wondered how atoms first came together to make up the three crucial molecular components of living organisms: RNA, DNA and proteins.

The evidence seems to be building that we are actually all Martians; that life started on Mars and came to Earth on a rock,” Prof Steven BennerWestheimer Institute for Science and Technology

The molecules that combined to form genetic material are far more complex than the primordial "pre-biotic" soup of organic (carbon-based) chemicals thought to have existed on the Earth more than three billion years ago, and RNA (ribonucleic acid) is thought to have been the first of them to appear.

One million cockroaches on the loose after breaking out of farm

Having one or two cockroaches inside your house is annoying enough but try having to contend with the million roaches which have reportedly escaped from a farm in China.

The insects, which were going to be used for traditional medicine, are thought to have absconded from an institution in Dafeng.

They are now reportedly nesting in cornfields that surround the farm in the city located in the eastern province of Jiangsu.

The pests are thought to have got loose after an unidentified person destroyed part of the greenhouse they were being kept in.

Wang Pengsheng, who owns the farm, could now lose tens of thousands of pounds after spending half a year mastering his business plan.

Chinese authorities have not yet figured out how they’re going to deal with the large number of escaped cockroaches, but five investigators have been sent to the location to formulate a plan.

Giant tarantula the size of man’s hand ‘on the loose in Torquay’

People of Torquay, don’t be alarmed but a giant tarantula the size of a man’s hand has reportedly escaped and is on the loose in your town.

Landlady Sonia McGrath, who rents out a flat in Ellacombe, spotted the ‘brown and hairy’ spider in the garden of her property.

‘I thought it was a mouse at first but then I saw these big hairy legs,’ she told the Herald Express.

‘I dropped everything and went straight home.’

Mrs McGrath retuned with reinforcements in the shape of her husband Kevin, who was equipped with a fishing net and broom handle.

Despite their best efforts, the creepy crawly escaped through a panel in the fence and has been missing ever since.

Luckily for those living in Torquay, the tarantula is not thought to be dangerous.

‘They (Paignton Zoo) told me that it is harmless but won’t survive if it gets too cold so I desperately want to find it,’ Mrs McGrath added.

‘I can’t see myself picking it up but want to make sure it is safe.’

Bloodworms in Drinking Water: Are They Safe?

Residents of Colcord, Okla. (population 815) were shocked to discover tiny red worms in their drinking water this week. The city has asked people to not use their tap water for drinking or food preparation, and several organizations are distributing bottled water for drinking purposes.

"We are still looking into this problem," city councilman Terry Wood told The Associated Press. "I mean, we need to get to the bottom of it and we will continue to investigate and do pretty much what we need to do to find out what happened here."

The worms have been identified as bloodworms, the small larvae of the midge fly (Chironomidae). Sometimes used as fishing bait or to feed aquarium fish, the larvae of some of these insects contain hemoglobin, which helps them get oxygen from water and gives them their characteristic reddish hue.

Though the worms themselves are harmless if swallowed, a large infestation of bloodworms may be indicative of other water quality issues — because of their hemoglobin content, bloodworms can thrive in polluted water with low oxygen levels.

The worms aren't common in the water supplies of Oklahoma, but show up occasionally in the southeastern United States, according to a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.

Monster croc captured in north Qld

A giant saltwater crocodile has been captured in north Queensland.

The 4.5 metre saltie has been terrorising fisherman on the Herbert River at Halifax, about an hour north of Townsville.

It is the biggest croc caught in Queensland this year.

More than a dozen rangers had to work together for half a day to wrangle the beast out of the water, as it weighs between 300 and 400 kilograms.

The monster crocodile has been wandering the waters of the Herbert River for months, venturing into a popular fishing sport earlier this week.

Senior ranger Mike Joyce says the animal is an awesome sight up close.

He says crocs of that size are only captured about once a year.

"He's as big as a natural four-wheel-drive," he said.

"When you sit down and look at him you'll sit there and go, 'wow - he's a metre wide, he's got this huge tail.

"He's got so much power it is unbelievable - it's hard to describe how much power he really does have."

Mr Joyce says despite his size, it only took one attempt to trap the croc.

"It normally tells us that the animal is being really aggressive and he's really hungry as well - it's not normal for us to get an animal so quickly," he said.

Fox found tied up and gagged with a copper pipe in a Swansea garden

An investigation into animal cruelty has been launched after a fox was found tied up inside a box in the garden of a house in Swansea. The fox's legs were bound by rope and it had been forced to bite down on copper piping with its muzzle tied up. Despite the RSPCA's best efforts, the fox had to be put to sleep ten days after it was rescued on the advice of a vet due to injuries sustained by the rope tied around its legs. Officers made the grim discovery at a home in the Blackpill area of Swansea, where they also found a metal fox trap tucked away in the garden. 

RSPCA Inspector Gemma Cooper called the treatment of the female fox "barbaric" and appealed for information surrounding the incident. She said: "Someone had deliberately trapped this poor fox and kept in this barbaric way. "We have no idea why she was trapped or what would have happened if we hadn't found her. "We would like to hear from anyone who has information about this incident or with information where the trap was purchased. 

"We would be particularly interested in hearing from anyone who has sold one between January and June of this year." Fox traps are legal, but officers believe information about where it was acquired may help them find those responsible for tying the fox's legs and muzzle. It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to treat an animal this way, the RSPCA said, and those found responsible could face prosecution with a maximum sentence of £20,000 and or a six month prison sentence. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the RSPCA cruelty and information line on 0300 1234 999. 




World gets its first look at Australia Zoo's newborn Sumatran tiger cubs



Two Sumatran tiger cubs were born last Thursday at the Australian Zoo and now you can watch them, and their mother Kaitlyn live on a24/7 webcam.

The feed is being provided by The Pet Collective, which delayed implementing the camera immediately to ensure that the tiger cubs were healthy.

In truth, most of what you’ll be seeing on the live cam is the still-unnamed cubs sleeping. But for cat lovers, that’s part of the inherent charm.

“While we’re typically focused on pets and pet lovers, when the Australia Zoo came to us with this opportunity, we knew it was something we just had to provide to our viewers,” Tom Maynard, channel head of The Pet Collective, said in a statement provided to Yahoo! News. “This is really an extraordinary opportunity both for us and for our audience.”

And the real scoop here for tiger fans is that viewers get a glimpse at the rare tigers before they are put on display for the public to see in person. Fewer than 500 Sumatran tigers are known to exist in the world and the successful breeding of the cubs is part of a larger effort to help protect the species. The large tigers can grow up to nine feet long and weigh from between 220 and 400 pounds

“Kaitlyn will spend the next few weeks making sure her cubs are well fed with the nutrition they need, while the cubs will bond with her before they go on public display,” Australia Zoo’s tiger keeper Giles Clark said in a statement provided to Yahoo! News. “This means The Pet Collective is offering the world a very first look, well before most people have ever seen young tigers.”



Friday, 30 August 2013

Ivory campaign in China raising awareness of elephant massacres

70% of Chinese didn't realise ivory came from dead elephants

July 2013. A recent evaluation of an advertising campaign by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to reduce ivory demand in China shows that the campaign is paying dividends with 68% of the respondents said that they would definitely not buy ivory in the future.

Previous polling by IFAW found that 70% of the Chinese did not realize that ivory came from dead elephants. In Chinese, elephant ivory is called Xiang Ya (elephant tooth). This nomenclature unfortunately gives people the impression that an ivory tusk, like a person's teeth, can fall out naturally.

"This astounding discovery led us to initiate the ‘Mum I've got teeth' ad campaign about three years ago." said Grace Ge Gabriel, Asia Regional Director for IFAW. "The ads explain that ivory products come from dead elephants and encourage consumers to reject elephant ivory."

Desire for ivory reduced
The online survey found that 75% of the urban Chinese population have seen the ads, through outdoor, magazines and social media. The majority of those who were exposed to the campaign fully processed the messages (88%). The campaign has more than halved the high risk segment of people-those who are most likely to purchase elephant ivory-from 54% down to 26%.

In addition, amongst the 44% of Chinese who had purchased ivory in the past 12 months, only 7% still had any intention of making a future purchase following exposure to the ad campaign.

"It's very exciting to see that our campaign has definitely resonated with the Chinese public and achieved its intended outcome", said Gabriel. "What's more encouraging is to see Chinese people are not prejudiced against elephants. Once they know the bloody slaughter of elephants behind each piece of ivory, the majority not only rejects purchasing ivory but tells their friends and family to reject it as well."

The IFAW ads also have positive impact on past buyers of ivory. After exposure to the campaign, those saying they may buy ivory in the future reduced from a total of 18% down to 8%. Those saying they will definitely not buy ivory increased from 33% up to 66%.

"The main reason given for not purchasing ivory in the future is that they feel remorse because elephants are being killed," said Gabriel.

The survey was conducted by Rapid Asia using online panels with a sample size of 1067.

The summary report is available online at: www.ifaw.org/ivoryreport

Snapping Turtles Finding Refuge in Urban Areas While Habitats Are Being Polluted

Aug. 27, 2013 — In the Midwest, some people have a fear of encountering snapping turtles while swimming in local ponds, lakes and rivers. Now in a new study, a University of Missouri researcher has found that snapping turtles are surviving in urban areas as their natural habitats are being polluted or developed for construction projects. One solution is for people to stop using so many chemicals that are eventually dumped into the waterways, the scientist said.

"Snapping turtles are animals that can live in almost any aquatic habitat as long as their basic needs for survival are met," said Bill Peterman, a post-doctoral researcher in the Division of Biological Sciences at MU. "Unfortunately, suitable aquatic habitats for turtles are being degraded by pollution or completely lost due to development. We found that snapping turtles can persist in urbanized areas, despite the potential for more interaction with humans."

Peterman said that reducing negative inputs, such as waste and harmful chemicals, into waterways will help restore snapping turtles' habitats. Engaging in this type of environmental action also will increase biodiversity in those habitats and improve the quality of life to all species that call those habitats home.

However, even though turtles are living in urban areas, Peterman says people have nothing to fear.

European Hunter-Gatherers Owned Pigs as Early as 4600 BC

Aug. 27, 2013 — European hunter-gatherers acquired domesticated pigs from nearby farmers as early as 4600 BC, according to new evidence.

The international team of scientists, including researchers at Durham and Aberdeen universities, showed there was interaction between the hunter-gatherer and farming communities and a 'sharing' of animals and knowledge. The interaction between the two groups eventually led to the hunter-gatherers incorporating farming and breeding of livestock into their culture, say the scientists.

The research, published in Nature Communications today (27 August), gives new insights into the movements of pre-historic humans and the transition of technologies and knowledge.

The spread of plants and animals throughout Europe between 6000 and 4000 BC involved a complex interplay between indigenous Mesolithic hunter-gatherers and incoming Neolithic farmers but the scale of the interaction and the extent to which hunter-gatherers took ideas from their neighbours remains hotly debated.

The researchers say previous evidence about the ownership of domestic animals by hunter-gatherers has so far been circumstantial.

Lead author, Dr Ben Krause-Kyora, from Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel, Germany, said: "Mesolithic hunter-gatherers definitely had dogs, but they did not practise agriculture and did not have pigs, sheep, goats, or cows, all of which were introduced to Europe with incoming farmers about 6000 BC. Having people who practised a very different survival strategy nearby must have been odd, and we know now that the hunter-gathers possessed some of the farmers' domesticated pigs."

MOUNTAIN LION: Big Cat Reported Near School


A big cat caused a big scare at a metro elementary school Wednesday.

The playground at Clay Elementary School in Altoona was unusually quiet Wednesday during recess. Kids were kept inside the building amid fears over a mountain lion.

A witness told school officials she saw a mountain lion cross the street about a mile away from the school. Police checked out the area, but didn’t spot any sign of a big cat.

On Monday the manager of an apartment complex on East Hubbell Road reported seeing a mountain lion. The complex is about three miles west of the school. Experts say it wouldn’t be surprising for a mountain lion to travel that far.

“Absolutely because those big cats can move 30, 40, 50 miles a day pretty easily.” says Kevin Baskins with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, ”Sometimes greater distances.”

This wouldn’t be the first time a big cat was spotted in the area. Des Moines police shot and killed a mountain lion near the east mixmaster last October.

Experts say mountain lions rarely attack people.

Violent raccoon attack sends dog and his owner to the hospital

A violent raccoon attack in Seattle's Leschi neighborhood left both a dog and its owner in need of medical attention. 

Jason Campbell says he let his dog out into their fenced backyard on Tuesday night, just like he does every evening.

He heard the confrontation between his pet and an aggressive raccoon even before he saw it.

"I heard him squealing, and I heard the raccoon hissing," he said. "And I was like Alfie, Alfie, get inside!"

His terrier mix, Alfie, quickly ran inside. That's when Jason says the raccoon followed, and then turned on him.

"It kinda pushed me back into the house, so I was kicking and yelling," said Jason. "It was scary, I think the scariest thing was thinking he was going to go up the stairs."

When Jason threw his cell phone at the animal, it eventually retreated, but not before biting Jason on the leg.

As a typical protective pet owner, he took his dog to the animal hospital before seeing a doctor himself.

Jason says the doctors at Harborview Medical Center seemed very interested in his wound.

"I think they were like, whoa, it actually bit you," he said. "I think I had about ten injections last night, and I have to go back for four rounds of rabies treatments."

Alfie also suffered some bites and scratches, but both dog and owner are expected to be okay.

There are some strict rules regarding killing or trapping raccoons. Your best bet, especially in an urban setting, is to contact a pest professional to catch the raccoon for you.

Jason's advice to neighbors is to keep pets on a leash at night, even if they're inside a fenced backyard. 

He's also considering additional backyard lighting.

According to King County Animal Control, raccoons have adapted to urban and suburban life and are becoming more and more common in King County. 

Bites and rabies aren't the only concerns - raccoons' feces and urine also carry diseases that can be spread to people and pets.

Wildlife experts recommend anyone who encounters an aggressive raccoon to run away. You should also keep your pet's food inside and trash cans tightly secured, to keep them from scavenging so close to your home. 

Chester Zoo shock at Indian rhino birth

Meet Komala, the first-ever Indian rhino to be born at Chester Zoo.

Keepers have expressed their complete and utter shock after being initially unsure as to whether mother Asha was pregnant or not.

Komala, who was brought into the world in July, has been shown on public display for the first time, with Chester Zoo staff keen to protect her and her mother in the early stages.

Curator of mammals Tim Rowlands said her arrival had "raised a smile amongst the keepers", who have already welcomed three black rhinos in less than a year.

"Our rhino keeping team, and indeed the rhinos themselves, have had the most fantastic few months and clearly our Indian rhinos weren't about to be outdone.

"Although we had an inkling that Asha was pregnant, it was just that - an inkling and a hunch that comes with experienced keepers."

He added that Komala was both a "breeding first for us [and] a bonus for the population of Indian rhinos, which are yet another rhino species being put at risk as they are cruelly and brutally poached for their horn".

Fast moving snails spread deadly dog disease across UK

Despite their lethargic reputations, snails can travel at a relatively speedy one metre per hour, say researchers.

By attaching multicoloured LED lights, the scientists were able to track their movements over a 24-hour period.

The gastropods were fast enough to explore the length of an average UK garden in a single night.

But scientists are worried that the fast-moving snails are spreading a parasite that is deadly for dogs.

Over the past few years the wet summers enjoyed across the UK have proved the ideal breeding grounds for snails.

They are not just lettuce munchers, they are carriers of parasites that can kill your dogs,” Dr Dave Hodgson University of Exeter

According to the Royal Horticultural Society, their numbers increasedby 50% last year.

As well as being a pest for gardeners, snails can also spread a parasite called Angiostrongylus vasorum.

This lungworm is a particular threat to dogs, which can become infected by accidentally eating slugs or snails which they come across in the garden or on dog toys.

Sea Monsters Are Eating Somalian Pirates

There have been reports of missing Somali Pirates off the coast of the Horn of Africa. Many news sources over look this story but Somali pirates are disappearing, or to say when they set sail, not all of them return.

Tales of ghastly evil creatures lurking below devour their tiny boats and some use ammo too quickly which then can anger those slimy beasts whatever they are.

Perhaps its a submarine, but more likely a living breathing squid like giant sea serpent monster that lurks in the oceans below.

Even the Somali Pirates are scared of the unknown when large vein like tentacles wraps itself around the person leaning over the edge and his team mates can not kill the bizarre beast!

Underwater submarines won’t even tell the general public whats down at those or any depths of the sea. As long as the crew in the submarine keeps provoking those creature things to come up to the surface, its a perfect Somali Pirate deterrant. Its much an easier way to use the beasts of the sea to attack the enemy instead of using regular man power and search and rescue resources need not wasted.

Thursday, 29 August 2013

David Maddox: Badger cull may be last straw

COUNCIL planning departments up and down the UK, especially those in rural areas, used to have an unwritten rule: “Don’t annoy the RSPB.”

The influence and power of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds derives from a national membership of more than a million, vast land ownings and funds of around £100 million. This means that when it objects to something, more often than not it does not happen – although Donald Trump managed to beat the charity over his golf course in Aberdeenshire.

But the power of the RSPB reflects a wider influence of conservation, animal and nature charities across the UK, and this is why the next few weeks could potentially prove to be problematic for David Cameron and the Conservative Party, with the start of a mass cull of thousands of badgers. The government has agreed to two trial schemes in England because farmers have claimed that badgers are the primary cause of bovine TB. The nervousness about the project is reflected by the fact that it has already been delayed once, but it could start as soon as today.

The problem is that while bovine TB is a major concern in British agriculture, the scientific evidence linking it to badgers is debatable, and there is a strong case being made for an effective vaccine for cattle as an alternative.

Nevertheless, Tory Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, a keen shooter himself, like the Prime Minister, has been persuaded that it is worth trying a cull. It would seem to be a politically sound move: farmers want it and are traditionally Tory, while the hunting lobby in the form of the Countryside Alliance is strongly Tory. The feeling is Tories would like to kill more cute, furry animals for fun, such as foxes. But this ignores another core element of traditional Tory support: the majority of the many thousands of people who support wildlife and conservation charities and get very upset when cute, furry animals are harmed.

Of the top 100 UK charities, 15 are related to animal welfare and conservation. One of the bigger ones, the Wildlife Trusts, even has the badger as its symbol. The 47 trusts it runs have more than 800,000 members and the three biggest alone have an annual income of more than £12m. Now these charities are on the warpath and so are their – largely Conservative-leaning – memberships. Whether it is Mr Badger from Wind in the Willows or pictures of cuddly wildlife, the public has a soft spot for badgers and they even have a celebrity supporter and opponent of the cull, Queen guitarist Brian May.

Once the cull gets under way, it will not be long before pictures of thousands of slaughtered badgers are all over newspapers and the web, which is bound to provoke a reaction. Cameron has taken on traditional supporters in his party on several issues, not least gay marriage, only to see them look for alternatives, often Ukip. The badger cull could yet prove to be another damaging episode in the erosion of the Tories’ core support.

COUNCIL planning departments up and down the UK, especially those in rural areas, used to have an unwritten rule: “Don’t annoy the RSPB.” The influence and power of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds derives from a national membership of more than a million, vast land ownings and funds of around £100 million. This means that when it objects to something, more often than not it does not happen – although Donald Trump managed to beat the charity over his golf course in Aberdeenshire. But the power of the RSPB reflects a wider influence of conservation, animal and nature charities across the UK, and this is why the next few weeks could potentially prove to be problematic for David Cameron and the Conservative Party, with the start of a mass cull of thousands of badgers. The government has agreed to two trial schemes in England because farmers have claimed that badgers are the primary cause of bovine TB. The nervousness about the project is reflected by the fact that it has already been delayed once, but it could start as soon as today. The problem is that while bovine TB is a major concern in British agriculture, the scientific evidence linking it to badgers is debatable, and there is a strong case being made for an effective vaccine for cattle as an alternative. Nevertheless, Tory Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, a keen shooter himself, like the Prime Minister, has been persuaded that it is worth trying a cull. It would seem to be a politically sound move: farmers want it and are traditionally Tory, while the hunting lobby in the form of the Countryside Alliance is strongly Tory. The feeling is Tories would like to kill more cute, furry animals for fun, such as foxes. But this ignores another core element of traditional Tory support: the majority of the many thousands of people who support wildlife and conservation charities and get very upset when cute, furry animals are harmed. Of the top 100 UK charities, 15 are related to animal welfare and conservation. One of the bigger ones, the Wildlife Trusts, even has the badger as its symbol. The 47 trusts it runs have more than 800,000 members and the three biggest alone have an annual income of more than £12m. Now these charities are on the warpath and so are their – largely Conservative-leaning – memberships. Whether it is Mr Badger from Wind in the Willows or pictures of cuddly wildlife, the public has a soft spot for badgers and they even have a celebrity supporter and opponent of the cull, Queen guitarist Brian May. Once the cull gets under way, it will not be long before pictures of thousands of slaughtered badgers are all over newspapers and the web, which is bound to provoke a reaction. Cameron has taken on traditional supporters in his party on several issues, not least gay marriage, only to see them look for alternatives, often Ukip. The badger cull could yet prove to be another damaging episode in the erosion of the Tories’ core support.

Sri Lanka police in doghouse over canine 'wedding'

Sri Lanka's cultural affairs ministry has taken strong exception to a mass "wedding" of police dogs, which used symbols of traditional Buddhist nuptials on the Indian Ocean island.

Culture Minister T.B. Ekanayake demanded an explanation for Monday's ceremony in central Sri Lanka, which was intended to promote a programme to breed more sniffer dogs.

Police "married" nine pairs of dogs on a platform decked with white cloth and flowers symbolic of a traditional marriage ceremony. The brides were decked in mittens, shawls and hats while the grooms wore fancy neckties and shawls.

"Using hallowed national traditions at a dog show must be condemned with contempt," the minister told the state-run Dinamina daily. "They have devalued the (traditional) poruwa (wedding) ritual."

Police spokesman Buddhika Siriwardena said the police department regretted any offence caused to the cultural sensibilities of the population, which is 75 percent ethnic Sinhalese and Buddhist.

"The department wishes to express its deep regret over this matter," he said.

Constables served milk rice and cake to some 2,000 invitees and 20 police dogs attended the ceremony in the town of Kandy.

The dog couples were driven off in a police van to the hill resort of Nuwara Eliya for their "honeymoon".

Crocodile Victim Sean Cole's Body Recovered

The body of a man who was snatched by a large crocodile in the north of Australia has now been recovered.

IT worker Sean Cole, 26, was taken on Saturday in front of at least 15 onlookers as he swam with a friend across a muddy river that has one of the highest densities of saltwater crocodiles in the world.

He had been celebrating his friend’s 30th birthday at the Mary River Wilderness Retreat when the pair decided to take a swim in the croc-infested water, about 68 miles (110km) from the city of Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory.

Northern Territory Police senior constable Wade Rodgers said his body was found early on Monday in the area where he was last seen.

"Our thoughts are with the family during this very difficult time," he said.

Mr Cole’s friend survived.

Witnesses had recounted seeing the animal, believed to be nearly five metres (16 feet) long, swimming upriver with his body in its jaws.

The Northern Territory News said a survey three weeks ago recorded four crocodiles over four metres in the area and 10 to 12 measuring more than three metres.

Snakes alive: deadly tenants nest in Australia's suburbs

They are the nightmare tenants who can live undetected alongside Australian families for years: the world's deadliest snakes.

Australia is home to some of the most venomous species including the lethal eastern brown, which thrive in urban areas where rubbish bins attract prey such as rats and mice.

Sydney snake handler Andrew Melrose says some species even spend winter months comfortably curled up inside warm roofs, until they are disturbed, often by accident.

"Some people really panic, and they are screaming," says Melrose of the residents who call him for help.

"They reckon they are going to sell up and move to a place like New Zealand where there are no snakes."

The irony is that the reptiles have often been living in the house or garden for years, and it is only something out of the ordinary -- such as a rare day off for the homeowner or a building renovation -- that brings them to light, Melrose says.

Detroit Big Cat, Giant Savannah Breed Animal Named 'Chum', Shot And Killed: Reports

Reports of a giant cat stalking the streets of Detroit made national headlines for a few days.

But now an animal group says that the big cat of Detroit, who was rumored to be the size of a Doberman, has been shot and killed.

Paws for the Cause Feral Cat Rescue told WXYZ-TV that the cat met an untimely end. They had been trying for the last several days to rescue the animal.

The Detroit Free Press found out more about the cat. For starters, the feline had a name: Chum.

Laura Wilhelm-Bruzek, founder of Paws for the Cause, told the Free Press that the cat was three years old and weighed 25 pounds. It was a Savannah cat, a cross-breed between an African serval and a domestic house cat that was first introduced in the 1980s.

The cat also wasn't a stray. The owners, who lived in Eastpointe, which borders Detroit, said Chum had escaped through a bathroom window about a month ago. They hadn't micro-chipped their pet.

The animal's remains were found in a trash can on Detroit's east side Monday evening. WIlhelm-Bruzek said that a resident living just south of Eight Mile Road had shot and killed the feline days ago. Neighbors in the area had reportedly asked the Detroit Police and the Michigan Humane Society to investigate reports of the animal, but action wasn't taken quick enough to save Chum's life.

'Wounded badger patrol' cull protest camp set up

Around 200 people walked through the streets of Minehead in Somerset on Monday night, many wearing badger masks or t-shirts and carrying candles.

In a sombre atmosphere, the 55 candles were then extinguished to represent the planned cull of 5,500 badgers over the next six weeks.

Farmers claim badgers spread the cattle disease bovine tuberculosis (TB).

But Adrian Coward, Chairman of the Somerset Badger Group, said it was "needless slaughter" as better cattle control and vaccines would stop the disease.

He said the cull was the equivalent of a dead badger every 10m from Taunton to Bristol.

“This is not a mini trial, this is mass slaughter,” he said.

Later around 20 people in high visibility jackets walked along rural footpaths in the dark looking for signs of baiting, traps or any signs the setts have been interfered with.

Carla Kidd, 39, an organic gardener from Cornwall, said the so called "patrols" will not trespass onto private land.

But she insisted that there are so many setts close to public land that it should be possible for protesters to legally "monitor" and even prevent the cull going ahead.

World's oldest wild black bear dies of old age - via D R Shoop

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota wildlife officials say the world's oldest known wild black bear has died of old age at 39 1/2.

Bear No. 56 was first captured and radio-collared in 1981 when Ronald Reagan was early in his first term. The bear was 7 years old at the time and was accompanied by three cubs.

Department of Natural Resources researcher Karen Boyce recently found the bear's decomposed body in a secluded, wooded area in northern Minnesota. She says all indications are that it died a quiet death from natural causes. She calls it "a fitting death for a fine old bear."

Researchers suspect Bear No. 56's longevity probably is best attributed to a combination of living in a remote area with few humans or major roads, wariness of people and luck.

Teen suffers apparent wolf attack at north central Minn. campsite - via D R Shoop

by Conrad Wilson, Minnesota Public Radio
August 26, 2013

A teenager apparently was attacked over the weekend by a grey wolf in northern Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The attack occurred at the West Winnie Campground on the shores of Lake Winnibigoshish around 4 a.m. on Saturday.

The 16-year-old boy was lying outside a tent when he was attacked, according to Tom Provost, regional manager of the DNR's enforcement division.

"Unbeknownst to him, a large canine approached him from the rear and before he realized it was even there it had bit him in the back of the head resulting in a little bit of a struggle for him to free himself from the jaws," Provost said.

The teen was taken to a Bemidji-area hospital where he was treated for puncture wounds on either side of his face and later released.

The DNR did not release the identity of the teen, but Provost said he's from northern Minnesota.

Wolf attacks like this are extremely rare. "I do not know of another recorded incident similar to this where there was actual physical damage and injury to the victim," Provost said.

Following the attack, the U.S. Forest Service closed and evacuated the campground. Wildlife officials then set traps.

A 75 pound wolf matching the description of the animal in the attack was captured and killed this morning. Results of a rabies test will be available later this week.

Desert tortoise faces threat from its own refuge as BLM closes Vegas rescue center (Euthanize some of the tortoises) - via Herp Digest


By Associated Press, Published: August 25, 2013 

LAS VEGAS — For decades, the vulnerable desert tortoise has led a sheltered existence. 

Developers have taken pains to keep the animal safe. It’s been protected from meddlesome hikers by the threat of prison time. And wildlife officials have set the species up on a sprawling conservation reserve outside Las Vegas. 

But the pampered desert dweller now faces a threat from the very people who have nurtured it. 

Federal funds are running out at the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center and officials plan to close the site and euthanize hundreds of the tortoises they’ve been caring for since the animals were added to the endangered species list in 1990. 

“It’s the lesser of two evils, but it’s still evil,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service desert tortoise recovery coordinator Roy Averill-Murray during a visit to the soon-to-be-shuttered reserve at the southern edge of the Las Vegas Valley last week. 

Biologists went about their work examining tortoises for signs of disease as Averill-Murray walked among the reptile pens. But the scrubby 220-acre refuge area will stop taking new animals in the coming months. Most that arrive in the fall will simply be put down, late-emerging victims of budget problems that came from the same housing bubble that put a neighborhood of McMansions at the edge of the once-remote site. 

The Bureau of Land Management has paid for the holding and research facility with fees imposed on developers who disturb tortoise habitat on public land. As the housing boom swept through southern Nevada in the 2000s, the tortoise budget swelled. But when the recession hit, the housing market contracted, and the bureau and its local government partners began struggling to meet the center’s $1 million annual budget. 

Housing never fully recovered, and the federal mitigation fee that developers pay has brought in just $290,000 during the past 11 months. Local partners, which collect their own tortoise fees, have pulled out of the project. 

“With the money going down and more and more tortoises coming in, it never would have added up,” said BLM spokeswoman Hillerie Patton. 

Back at the conservation center, a large refrigerator labeled “carcass freezer” hummed in the desert sun as scientists examined the facility’s 1,400 inhabitants to find those hearty enough to release into the wild. Officials expect to euthanize more than half the animals in the coming months in preparation for closure at the end of 2014. 

The desert tortoise is a survivor that has toddled around the Southwest for 200 million years. But ecologists say the loss of the conservation center represents a harmful blow in southern Nevada for an animal that has held onto some unfortunate evolutionary quirks that impede its coexistence with strip malls, new homes and solar plants. 

Laws to protect the panicky plodders ban hikers from picking them up, since the animals are likely dehydrate themselves by voiding a year’s worth of stored water when handled. When they’re moved, they nearly always attempt to trudge back to their burrows, foiling attempts to keep them out of harm’s way. They’re also beset by respiratory infections and other illnesses. 

No more than 100,000 tortoises are thought to survive in the habitat where millions once burrowed across parts of Utah, California, Arizona and Nevada. 

The animals were once so abundant that tourists would scoop them up as souvenirs. Many quickly realized the shy grass-eaters don’t make ideal pets. (For one thing, they can live for 100 years.) And once the species was classified as threatened on the endangered species list, people rushed to give them back. 

Former pets make up the majority of the tortoises at the conservation center, where they spend their days staring down jackrabbits and ducking out of the sun into protective PVC piping tucked into the rocky desert floor. Most of these animals are not suitable for release, either infected with disease or otherwise too feeble to survive. 

Averill-Murray looks as world-weary as the animals he studies. He wants to save at least the research function of the center and is looking for alternative funding sources. 

“It’s not the most desirable model to fund recovery — on the back of tortoise habitat,” he said.

Wednesday, 28 August 2013

Badger cull begins in Somerset in attempt to tackle TB

A controversial badger cull is under way in England despite protests, the National Farmers' Union has confirmed.

About 5,000 badgers are expected to be killed in controlled shootings over six weeks in Somerset and Gloucestershire.

Supporters say the cull is necessary to tackle bovine TB, which can be spread from infected badgers, but opponents say it is inhumane and ineffective.

The RSPCA said it was "saddened", while anti-cull protesters held a vigil as the pilot began, initially Somerset.

It is understood the cull in Gloucestershire will start later this week.

In a letter to members, National Farmers' Union (NFU) president Peter Kendall said: "This is an important step not just for cattle farmers but for the whole farming industry.

"I know that many of you reading this will have suffered the misery of dealing with TB on farm - some of you for decades - and I hope now you will feel that something is finally being done to stem the cycle of infection between cattle and badgers."

He added that he hoped the culls would show a reduction in TB in cattle, and that more people would understand why they were "absolutely necessary".